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The excitement for the upcoming Women's Asia Cup, followed by the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh, is lower than expected due to the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the United States. However, women's cricket has seen significant growth in recent years. According to former India captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, the growth in women's cricket has been greater than in men's since 2019. Marc Hayward, CEO of CricFan TV, also shares this sentiment.
Growth of Women's Cricket
Marc Hayward shared his thoughts on the increasing popularity of women's cricket and the challenges of running a fan-centric platform during a conversation with Outlook. Here are the excerpts from his conversation:
Audience Reception for CricFan During IPL 2024
"The IPL 2024 was fantastic for us. We know the market is saturated with content, but we came in with an open mind. Our engagement was excellent, and our podcasts received good views. We launched a new platform called CricWin, partnered with Radio City, which allowed our audience to participate in prize competitions. This initiative brought new people to our platform, offering them the chance to win free tickets and prizes, including signed cricket memorabilia from Virat Kohli. We are very happy with the engagement numbers."
Bringing Fans to the Limelight
"CricFan aims to provide a platform for fans to have a voice. We will soon launch new concepts on YouTube and Meta, including Fanzone TV with JioCinema. We don't want to be controversial; instead, we want fans to express their opinions without being influenced by the politics of television or the teams they support. Fans are the flagbearers of the sport, and CricFan is all about giving them a voice."
Challenges for CricFan in India
"I don't see any major challenges regarding passionate fans. The issue lies with the presenters of broadcast companies who need to be careful with their words. More people are shifting to mobile phones for content consumption, which is a trend we are focusing on as a digital-first company."
Plans for ICC T20 World Cup 2024
"We are focusing on growing our social media community with podcast specials and continuing our prize competition platform. We will offer prizes related to international cricket players, signed memorabilia, and meet-and-greet opportunities."
Reason for Starting CricFan and Its Impact on Women's Cricket
"CricFan was created to give fans a platform. We believe fans are the flag bearers of the sport. Our 'Queens of Cricket' podcasts received a fantastic reception, highlighting the growth of women's cricket. Women's cricket is the fastest growing sport in the world, and our interaction during the Women's Premier League (WPL) through the 'Queens of Cricket' show was immense. Women in cricket and women fans greatly inspire us."
New Developments for CricFan in India
"We are launching CricWin, our prize competition platform, to enhance fan engagement. We offer prizes like cricket equipment, which some families may not afford. This platform has significant social aspects, and we aim to grow CricWin as India's most trusted prize competition site."
CricFan TV runs several fan-centric shows such as Cricket Chirps, Fanzone, and Queens of Cricket, which are well-known and established.
Conclusion
Marc Hayward emphasizes the rapid growth of women's cricket and the role of platforms like CricFan in engaging fans and providing them with a voice. Despite the ongoing men's T20 World Cup, the focus on women's cricket and fan engagement remains strong, with new initiatives and platforms being launched to enhance the fan experience.
